Posts Tagged “English Bulldog Internal Parasites”

These long, white worms are common, especially in puppies, although they occasionally infest adult dogs and people. The adult female roundworm can lay up to 200,000 eggs a day, which are passed in the dog’s feces. Roundworms are transmitted only via the feces. Because of this, stools should be picked up daily and your dog should be prevented from investigating other dogs’ feces. If treated early, roundworms are not serious. However, a heavy infestation can severely affect a dog’s health. English Bulldog puppies with roundworms will not thrive and will appear thin with a dull coat and a pot belly. In people, roundworms can be more serious. Therefore, early treatment, regular fecal checks, and good sanitation are important, both for your English Bulldog’s continued good health and yours.

Giardia

This protozoal disease infects mammals and birds. The parasites live in the small intestines and are acquired when cysts are ingested from contaminated water. Giardia is common in wild animals in many areas, so be careful if you take your English Bulldog walking in the wilderness. If she drinks out of the local spring or stream, she can pick up giardia, just as you can. Diarrhea is one of the first signs. If your dog has diarrhea and you and your dog have been out in the wilds, make sure you tell your veterinarian.

Vaccines

What vaccines dogs need and how often they need them has been a subject of controversy for several years. Researchers, health care professionals, vaccine manufacturers, and dog owners do not always agree on which vaccines each dog needs or how often booster shots must be given. In 2008, the American Animal Hospital Association issued a set of vaccination guidelines and recommendations intended to help English Bulldog owners and veterinarians sort through much of the controversy and conflicting information. The guidelines designate four vaccines as core, or essential for every dog, because of the serious nature of the diseases and their widespread distribution. These are canine distemper virus (using a modified live virus or recombinant modified live virus vaccine), canine parvovirus (using a modified live virus vaccine), canine adenovirus-2 (using a modified live virus vaccine), and rabies (using a killed virus). The general recommendations for their administration (except rabies, for which you must follow local laws) are: – Vaccinate English Bulldog puppies at 6-8 weeks, 9-11 weeks, and 12-14 weeks. – Give an initial “adult” vaccination when the dog is older than 16 weeks; two doses, three to four weeks apart, are advised, but one dose is considered protective and acceptable. – Give a booster shot when the English Bulldog is 1 year old. – Give a subsequent booster shot every three years, unless there are risk factors that make it necessary to vaccinate more or less often. Noncore vaccines should only be considered for those dogs who risk exposure to a particular disease because of geographic area, lifestyle, frequency of travel, or other issues. They include vaccines against distemper-measles virus, canine parainfluenza virus, leptospirosis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease). Vaccines that are not generally recommended because the disease poses little risk to Bulldogs or is easily treatable, or the vaccine has not been proven to be effective, are those against giardia, canine coronavirus, and canine adenovirus-1. Often, combination injections are given to Bulldog puppies, with one shot containing several core and noncore vaccines. Your veterinarian may be reluctant to use separate shots that do not include the noncore vaccines, because they must be specially ordered. If you are concerned about these noncore vaccines, talk to your vet.